Chlordane biodegradation under aerobic conditions by indigenous Streptomyces strains

Four actinobacteria strains isolated from pesticide-contaminated soil were able to grow in the presence of 16.6 mg L−1 chlordane, an organochlorine pesticide. The strain that showed best growth after 96 h of incubation in synthetic medium with chlordane as the sole carbon source was identified as Streptomyces sp. A5. When Streptomyces sp. A5 was cultured in the presence of chlordane, the pesticide was degraded from the culture medium after 24 h of incubation. In soil assays, a reduction of 56% in γ-chlordane was observed after 28 days of incubation. This is the first report about chlordane degradation under aerobic conditions by a Streptomyces strain.

► Streptomyces sp. A5 grew in chlordane-supplemented MM.
► An increase in chlordane concentration of 10 times showed similar microbial growth.
► A reduction of 56% in γ-chlordane was observed in soil after 28 days.